conchoid
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin concha (“mussel”) (from Ancient Greek κόγχη (kónkhē)) + -oid or directly from Ancient Greek κογχοειδής (konkhoeidḗs), referring to the curved outline of a mussel shell or anything in this form.
Noun[edit]
conchoid (plural conchoids)
- (mathematics, geometry) Any of a family of curves defined as the locus of points p, such that each p is on a line that passes through a given fixed point P and intersects a given curve, C, and the distance from p to the point of intersection with C is a specified constant (note that for nontrivial cases two such points p satisfy the criteria, and the resultant curve has two parts).
- The conchoid of a circle with respect to a point on the circle is a cardioid if the fixed distance is equal to the diameter of the circle.
- The Conchoid of Nicomedes is the conchoid of a straight line with respect to a point not on the line.
- 1815, Charles Hutton, Pappus, entry in A Philosophical and Mathematical Dictionary, Volume 2, page 147,
- He next treats of the properties of the Conchoid, which Nicomedes invented for doubling the cube; applying it to the solution of certain problems concerning Inclinations, with the finding of two mean proportionals, and cubes in any proportion whatever.
- 1982, J. Lee Kavanau, Curves and Symmetry[1], volume 1, page 3:
- The classical conchoid construction is a non-orthogonal polar-curvilinear construction in which equal distances along a line are marked off from its point of intersection with a curve for various positions of the line as it rotates about a point.
- 2007, James Stewart, Single Variable Calculus[2], volume 2, page 662:
- These curves are called conchoids of Nicomedes after the ancient Greek scholar Nicomedes. He called them conchoids because the shape of their outer branches resembles that of a conch shell or mussel shell.
- 2009, Niccolò Guicciardini, Isaac Newton on Mathematical Certainty and Method[3], page 68:
- One of the best choices is the conchoid, according to Newton the simplest curve after the circle.
- (geology) A conchoidal fracture in rock.
- 1948, Tennessee Valley Authority, “The Hiwassee Valley Projects”, in Technical Report, volume 2, number 5, page 359:
- Conchoids of sound rock, from a few feet to 20 or more feet in diameter, entirely surrounded by comparatively thin layers of weathered material, were frequently encountered, sometimes in adjacent series.
Usage notes[edit]
The fixed point (P) of the construction may be referred to as the focus of the conchoid; it may also be defined as the origin (of a Cartesian coordinate system) or the pole (if polar coordinates are used), and potentially referred to accordingly. The curve C is an example of a directrix.
Derived terms[edit]
- conchoid of de Sluze (strictly a cissoid)
- conchoid of Dürer (not actually a conchoid)
- conchoid of Nicomedes